FNA
Reporting Guidelines (Microsoft
Word, 23 K)
This document was created by the CAP Cytopathology Committee regarding reporting nongynecologic and FNA specimens. Examples of what would be considered bad reports are also provided.

Ronald L. Sirota, MD, FCAP, suggests this language as a standard comment/disclaimer for negative FNABs:
“Hypocellularity may indicate that the specimen is unsatisfactory for interpretation.”
“Technical considerations such as needle placement can cause a false negative or equivocal result.”
“Negative NFAB results should not preclude tissue biopsy if FNAB results do not correlate with clinical impressions.”

Ronald L. Sirota, MD, FCAP, suggests this language as a standard comment/disclaimer for negative cytology:
“Non-diagnostic cytological results should not preclude tissue biopsy if they do not correlate with clinical impressions.”